Monday, November 19, 2012

Big girl started eating cereal this month! She wasn't too sure of it at first...she would put her thumb back in her mouth after each bite. It was hard to keep her thumb out of there to get the cereal in...and yes, she is a thumb sucker (well, fingers will do as well).

BIG NEWS! We bought a new house! We finally sold our house after it being on the market for two years. We had outgrown our house and needed a bigger yard for Caden and the dogs. We looked at over 17 houses and finally found one we loved. More space and a much bigger yard!
Moving a family of four plus two dogs is a lot of work! Luckily Nana came up and helped with the kids while we packed up our house at night. Then, the changing of the guard, Nana left, and Grammie came to help with the move. Whoa, what a process...we all survived but just barely. Thankful for grandparents!
Scott had a broken ankle during the move (I jokingly called it an injury of convenience)...so Caden said his ankle was broken, too. He told us he fell off the monkey bars (which his cousin Wade broke his elbow falling off the monkey bars). Here's a picture of him making a boot just like daddy's.

We took a quick trip over to Wakulla Springs...we thought Caden would like the boat ride. This was actually his first time on a boat! Hard to believe but Scott has lived here most of his life and I have been here for 15 years and this was the first time we had been. Caden loved looking at the alligators all around the boat.

Travel for me was significantly less, I only had to shoot over to Fort Lauderdale for one night...and yes, daddy and both kids survived! Scott even sounded very calm and happy in the morning when he was getting everyone ready by himself :).

Sunday, October 14, 2012

After months and months of us trying to get Caden to pedal a bike, he just got on one day and started pedaling. Scott and I just looked at each other dumbfounded. It proves that kids will do things on their own time frame not what everyone thinks they should...He did this two days before we were going to get a physical therapy evaluation because we were concerned he wasn't pedaling a bike...go figure.

And yes, we let him ride his bike in the house...we have some traffic on our road and it's too hot for us to sit outside with the baby, so it's just easier. He is getting faster, so it will have to stop soon!

Sadly, mommy had to go back to work August 1st and Ensley went to in-home daycare. The first day of drop-offs was a little rough. I took Ensley first and Caden asked where she was going...so we now affectionately call daycare, "baby school". Caden liked the idea that he goes to big boy school and Ensley goes to baby school.

Second week back at work and I had to go to a conference in Orlando. I would have passed, but I was the conference chairperson, so I had to give the opening remarks, moderate some sessions, etc. Luckily, Nana (my mom) was able to drive to Orlando and watched Ensley during the day while I attended the conference. Apparently, Nana decided to have a photo shoot with Ensley while Mommy was working because this is what I found on my camera when I got back...

Everything was great...until the way home. 2 miles from the Tallahassee exit, traffic came to a dead stop. It took me 3 hours to go 2 miles all the while with a 13 week old baby. I thought I was going to lose it! And did a little bit...Figured out once we got home that a tractor trailer carrying cows overturned on I-10 and the jaws of life had to be used to get some of the cows out. Temporary fences had to be set up on the interstate to hold the cows. REALLY?!?

The next week after our Orlando trip, Caden had his first day of big boy school! When did my little boy become a big boy?!? He wears uniforms everyday and takes a backpack. We chose to put him in a religious private school since they have smaller class sizes and we liked that they go to chapel every week. He has to be at school by 8:15 or he is considered tardy, which is a big change for us since with daycare, you get there when you get there. So, needless to say, our morning routine starts a little earlier now.

Then a few days later, Ensley and I headed to Charleston for her third appointment with the Dr. for her hemangioma. We opted not to do a laser treatment this time as the hemangioma had grown in volume. The laser primarily helps to break it up on the surface but doesn't do much once the hemangioma grows in depth. So, we made the decision to start the oral medication, which should start to break it up. Since the dr. is in Charleston, he is going to work with our pediatrician to monitor her on the medication.

Charleston was a quick trip...we headed out Wednesday evening, spent the night with great grandmother in Macclenney. Spent Thursday night in Charleston and then drove back home on Friday.

The following Monday, I had another work trip to Chicago. Again, I would have passed, but this was the concluding session of a leadership program, which usually takes place in May and they waited on me to have the baby so that I could attend, so I felt obligated...This was the first time leaving Ensley over night. I was very nervous! I definitely didn't leave Caden overnight this early! This time, Grammie came over to help daddy with both kids. Everyone survived! I was probably the one that had the worst experience involving cancelled flights, lost luggage, midnight trips to walgreens, I could go on...

In between all of the travelling, Caden still loves "his baby"...and loves to hold her.

The last day of my maternity leave, I realized that Ensley was outgrowing a lot of her 0-3 month clothes and some that I didn't have pictures of her in...so we did a fashion show so that we can have pictures of her in some of these adorable ensembles...

I'm sorry, Caden, if you read this when you are older, but I love all of the girl clothes!

I knew it had been a while since I blogged, but didn't realize that it has been over 3 months! So much has happened for the whole family! I guess having two kids has kept us busy!

Well, I guess I will start in chronological order, so this post will be about July. For July 4th, we headed over to Panama City Beach to hang out with Pops and go swimming. I actually didn't end up with too many pictures, but I have one of Ensley in her cute fourth of July outfit!

Ensley had her two month check up. She weighed 12 lbs 4oz and 23 3/4 inches long. 85% for weight and 91% for height. I'm so used to Caden being off the charts, but she is still a big girl!

Later in July, Ensley got to take her first vacation (her previous road trips to Charleston don't count :)). We packed up the whole fam damily and headed to The Hammock Beach Resort. It was great. Ensley relaxed in style by the pool...

Then, Nana came up to meet us and we headed to Charleston to visit Uncle Ryan and Aunt AJ and to attend the Johnson Family reunion. Ensley also had her second appointment with the Dr. in Charleston about her hemangioma. He did another laser treatment and then said we'll have to wait and see until her next appointment. So no real update there on the hemangioma.

We were even able to catch a quick visit with Aunt Nancy and Uncle David (my mom's side).

Then we headed to the Johnson family reunion. It was great to see all of our family on the Johnson side...some we had not seen in 20 years. Here's some pictures that my Uncle sent to me from that day...